Window seal



Oct. 16, 1956 w. G. STREMMEL 2,766,494

WINDOW SEAL Filed March 2, 1954 LLIAM e. STREMMEL B 72% "7 ATTORNEYSabutment for the metal sash or casement. comes in long lengths and isextruded by dies out of artificial rubber or plastic material. Lipsareprovided on the V and to which the strips are secured.

' of the longitudinal strips abut the transverse strips.

2,766,494 WINDOW SEAL William G. 'Stremmel,Dayton, Gino ApplicationMarch 2, 1954, Serial No.'4 13,5l30

6 Claims. (Cl. 20-69)' The present invention relates to window seals,and more particularly to weather stripping that is inserted between ametal casement window and the frame.

Weather stripping is applied to the edges of the stationary part of thewindow structure to serve as a flexible The stripping stripping to gripthe edges of the frame. and a sealing member projects outwardly toreceive the outer-edge of the closed sash orcasement.

It has been'found that over a period of. time, particularly withrepeated opening and closing operations of the 1 casement, thecushioning or yielding efiect oifredbythe member becomes less. This isdue in some measure to the fact that practically all thecushioningeifectisprovided bythe yieldability of the material. atthejoint between-the sealing member and the body ofthestripping and alsothe resiliency of thesealing member itself,;so .that as the materialdeteriorates with age and changes its --degree of hardness, thetightness of theseal might be afiected.

seep or otherwise flow into the narrow..compartment.

nited States atent .resilient material and in whichits weather-sealingprop- I erties-are permanently retained in spite of some deteriorationof the material.

Still another object is to provide an improved weather stripping inwhich a pneumatic cushioning effect is obtained by means of an airchamber or compartment which is completely sealed except for small airescape openings.

A. further object is to provide weather stripping of the characterdescribed in the immediately foregoingobject, but in which the aircompartment is co-extensive with the sealing element and is formedsimultaneously therewith.

Another object is to provide improved weather stripping in which acolumn of air is provided lengthwise of the stripping to serve as acushioningagent.

The final object is to provide improved Weatherstrip- .ping'whichincludes a pneumatic'c'ushioning chamber extending the length of thestripping and in which the chamber can be formed by the same extrudingprocess and at thesame time that the stripping as a whole ismanufactured.

Other objects and features will be apparent as the specification isperused in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

'Figure 1 represents a fragmentary perspective view of a metal casementwindow and frame in open position and showing the location of theimproved weather stripping; Figure 2 is an enlarged view of a portion ofthe window 7 frame with the stripping in place and not undercomprestaken along line 222 in'Figure 1; V

Figure 3 is aview similar to Figure 2 butshowing a casement windowabutting the weather strippin and placing the latter under compression,as when the window is closed; and

v Figure 4 is anlenlarged perspective view of a portion of the improvedsealing member.

ready to be compressed and eventually to flow or leak a out ofthecompartment, when the easement is again closed. Thus, a pneumaticyielding effect is introduced to that provided by the resiliency of thematerialand: this effect remains constant and is-always available.during the life of the seal. 7

The sealing material is in the form of strips 'which extend around thestationary frame of acasement sash Inasmuch .as the frame isrectangular,it becomes necessary to cutthe strips on a bias, preferably 45 degrees,and of a length corresponding to the height and width of the frame.There is a portion extending inwardly from each strip and this portionis hermetically closed except at the places where the strips are cut topredetermined lengths to fit the frame. Crevices are therefore leftwhere the ends Air is forced outwardly through these crevices when thehermetic closure is compressed on closing thecasement sash and air issucked into each crevice to fill the closure as the compression isrelieved on opening the sash.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a' weather strippingmade of rubbery or resinous material which retains its weather-sealingqualities over longer periods of time than the stripping on the market.

Another object is to provide weather stripping made of ,other end of thebracket set is secured to theframe, thus Referring more particularly toFig. 1, reference character 1 represents a rectangular metal frame whichis provided in window openings of. a building, usually of brick. Asshown in-Figs. l and 2, the metal lengths 1 are usually formed in anl-section having legs 2 and 3 with an interconnecting web i. One of thelegs 2 usually extends only a relatively short distance, as indicated at5, beyond the web 4 so as to leave clearance space fo-rthe moving sashor casement of the window proper as the latter is opened-and closed.Theframe 1 can be securedtothe opening in the building in any suitableand well known manner.

The window properfi, comprising a sheet of glass, is fitted within asash or easement indicated at 7, of which a typical section is shown inFig.3. The casement 7 may comprise a section similar to the frame inthat it is formed of legs 8,9 joined together by an intermediate web 10.

as indicated at 12, is of shorter length than the corresponding leg 9. I

A sheet of glass 6 is fitted in the large rectangular recess formed bythe surfaces 9, 10 and 11 and held therein; in any suitable manner bymeans of metal fasteners, or even putty. Transverse metal strips 13which serve as reinforcing members may extend along the Width of theglass at any intermediate position or positions so as to give the effectof separate panes. =A window latch 14, pivoted at 15, may be provided onthe frame 1, having a handle 16, which upon pressing down, will forcethe latch 14 intov an opening (not shown) in the easement 7.

The window is swivelly supported on two sets of brackets of which oneset is indicated at 17, the bracket set being secured to the leg-9 ofthe easement, while the permitting the window to open outwardly on theswivels 18. A hand operator 19 is screwed to the lower part of theframe, having a handle 20 and an operating arm 21 that terminates in apivot or rivet. The latter is adapted to slide in a groove formed in thelower leg of the casement 7. Thus, by turning the handle 20, whichslides the arm outwardly or inwardly along the casement, the window canbe moved from its open to its closed position or vice-versa afteropening the latch 14.

In view of the difficulty of obtaining a tight fit between the lengthsof the metal casement and the lengths of the metal frame, it is mostdifficult to obtain a sealing ef ect between the moving and stationaryportions of the window structure even when the operator 20 is moved totightly close the window, and indeed, even when the latch handle 16 isoperated to lock the window. This is due to some distortion of thewindow elements and also inaccuracies in the manner in which the windowor its casement is mounted within the frame. It therefore becomesnecessary to provide a sealing element between the moving and stationaryportions, this element being most conveniently applied in strip form.

Description of the improved weather stripping In accordance with myinvention, I provide a weather stripping of unique and most effectivecharacter in furnishing a sealing effect over long periods of time. Thestrip itself is shown in Fig. 4, while the application and operation ofthe strip can be seen by comparing Fig. l which represents the openwindow arrangement, to Fig. 3 which shows the operation of the stripwhen the window is closed.

As shown in Fig. 4, the body 22 of the improved weather strippingcomprises a U-shaped member made of any suitable rubber or plasticmaterial that can be readily extruded, and a seal element indicatedgenerally at 23. The body portion comprises a pair of legs 24, bridgedat the top by a transverse strip 25. The legs 24 taper inwardly a littleand the interior surfaces are provided with ridges 26 in order moretightly to grip and to be secured by the leg 3 of the window frame asindicated in Figs. 2 and 3. Preferably, the body 22 is secured to theleg 3 by means of a suitable adhesive 27. But on occasion the grippingeffect of the legs 24, particularly the fact that they taper inwardly,is often sufiicient to furnish the necessary gripping force.

The seal portion 23 (Fig. 4) comprises a wing element 28 having anoverall thickness somewhat wider at the center portion indicated at 28A,which tapers down at the top, as indicated at 288, and also at thebottom, as indicated at 28C, where it joins the transverse strip 25.

The entire lower surface of the sealing member 28, as

seen in Fig. 4, takes on a general convex shape of variously curvedportions, and rounded off at the top, while the upper surface of themember 28 is given a concave configuration which merges as a reversecurve with the convexly curved corner 29 of the strip 25.

The wing or sealing element 28 at its greatest thickness is somewhatthicker than the legs 24 of the body, and the strip or bridging member25 of the body is also a trifle thicker than the legs 24.

In accordance with one of the aspects of my invention, there is providedwithin the wing element 28 a long, narrow compartment or chamber 30which has walls corresponding to the contour of the wing element and isas high and as wide as the dimensions of the wing element will permit tostill leave sufficient thickness of wall on both sides and the top ofthe compartment.

In practice, and assuming that the weather stripping as a whole isextruded from any suitable rubbery or plastic material, the compartment30 can be simultaneously formed by proper modifications of the extrudingdie.

Whereas in the absence of the compartment 30, I have found that thecushioning and sealing effects are dependent solely upon the resiliencyof the material out of which the weather stripping is made, and also onthe hinge effect obtained at the location 28C, the presence of thecompartment 30, or rather the column of air contained within thatcompartment, is such as to introduce an additional cushioning effectwhich is quite independent of any resilient property of the material.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, and assuming that the leg 24 of thestripping has gripped the leg 3 of the frame, the at rest oruncompressed position of the stripping shows that there is air containedin the compartment 30. This air is admitted to the compartment throughany crevice present in the structure, such as at the corners 31.

The wing or sealing element 28 projects outwardly, as seen in Fig. 2, toa position beyond the surface 24a of the leg 24 so as initially toreceive the oncoming surface of the easement at about the mid-pointposition 28a of the wing as the easement is being closed.

Referring to Fig. 3, there is shown the closed position of the easementwindow and it will be noted that by the time the leg 12 of the casementcontacts the surface 24a of the body of the stripping, the leg 9 willhave caused the walls of the wing element 28 to be pressed together asindicated by the curved line to force the air out of the compartment.

Inasmuch as the air can be exhausted only with difficulty and thenthrough cracks such as exist at the diagonal corners 31, and thesecracks may be considerable distances apart with long columns of airtherebetween, the air offers a certain amount of resistance to flow.Thus, a natural cushioning effect is produced by this column of air, thethickness of which is caused to decrease in an abrupt manner by thecompression effect of the leg 9 of the window. The faster the window isclosed, calling for a greater escape of air through any availablecrevice, the more resistance that will be set up by the narrow column ofair, and thus the more cushioning effect will be obtained. This effectis present regardless of any additional resiliency offered by thecharacter of the material out of which the stripping is made, andregardless of any tendency of the wing element 28 to return to itsnormal position as exercised at the hinge 28C.

The result is that in comparing the operation of the wing element 28from the open window position, as shown in Fig. 2, to the closed windowposition, shown in Fig. 3, the wing 28 continues to exercise a strongpressure against the leg 9 of the window casement and thus provides aneffective seal against all kinds of weather at that point.

The presence of the compartment 30, or the space it represents, alsoprovides a flat contact surface 32 (Fig. 3) where it abuts the leg 9 tooffer considerable depth to the sealing surface.

It is obvious that when the operator 20 is rotated to open the windowand pressure is relieved at the leg 9 of the easement, air will againseep through the crevices or cracks in the stripping to fill or blow outthe compartment 30, ready for the next closure of the window.

Inasmuch as the compartment 30 can be formed during the same extrudingprocess at which the weather stripping as a whole is made, by extrusionor any other suitable manner, the addition of the compartment causesvery little, if any, added cost to the yardage cost of the stripping asa whole.

While I have described my invention more particularly in connection withweather stripping for windows, and particularly for metal casementwindows, it will be understood that the stripping can be equally usedfor wooden casement windows and also as sealing elements tutions ofequivalents as may be considered to come within the scope of theappended claims.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A weather stripping adapted to provide a seal between a rectangularstationary frame and a movable casement, said stripping having spacedcrevices being adapted to extend around the rectangular joint betweenthe frame and casement, said stripping being continuous and completeexcept for the crevices left at the corners, said stripping comprising abody portion of extrudible weatherproof material and formed of twospaced portions adapted to receive the stationary frame between them,and a wing portion of similar material integrally secured to said bodyportion, said wing portion including a substantially closed hollowchamber containing air and which extends along the perimetrical lengthof the stripping, said wing portion being adapted to be compressed whenthe casement is closed to cause the chamber completely but slowly tocollapse and to expel the air to the atmosphere through the cornercrevices.

2. A weather stripping adapted to provide a seal between a rectangularstationary frame and a movable casement, said stripping having cornercrevices and being adapted to extend around the rectangular jointbetween the window and casement, said stripping being continuous andcomplete except for the crevices left at the corners, said strippingcomprising a U-shaped body portion of the extrudible material, and awing portion of similar material integrally secured to said body portionat a position between the legs of the U, said wing portion extending toa position as to be intercepted by the movable casement, and having ahollow interior containing air and in communication with said creviceswhereby as the Wing portion is collapsed when the frame and casementabut one another, the air in said interior is caused slowly to beexpelled to the atmosphere through the corner crevices.

3. A weather stripping adapted to provide a seal between a rectangularstationary frame of a casement sash and a movable casement, saidstripping having corner crevices and being adapted to extend around therectangular joint between the frame and casement, said stripping beingcontinuous and complete except for the crevices left at the corners,said stripping comprising a body portion having spaced side walls and abridging wall, said side walls being adapted to grip the stationaryframe, a wing portion extending outwardly from said bridging wall intothe path of the movable member and adapted to be compressed between thestationary frame and the movable casement, said wing portion including aclosed hollow chamber containing air which extends along theperimetrical length of the stripping as far as the crevices, said wingportions upon being compressed when the easement is closed, are adaptedcompletely but slowly to cause the chamber to collapse and to expel theair through the corner crevices.

4. A cushioning abutment adapted to provide a seal between a rectangularstationary frame and a movable casement, said abutment extendingperimetrically completely about the frame and casement except for cornercrevices, said abutment having a U-shape and being made of extrudiblematerial, a wing portion extending angularly from the bridging leg ofsaid U-shaped abutment and adapted to contact the movable casement as itswings into closing position against the frame, said wing portion beingmade of extrudible material and being formed simultaneously with theabutment portion to leave a neck between the wing and abutment portionswhere they are joined together, said neck serving efiectively as a hingebetween the wing and abutment portions when the wing is pressed by themoving casement, and a narrow compartment within said wing portion andformed simultaneously with the formation of the wing portion, saidcompartment extending the entire length of the wing and abutmentportions as far as said crevices and containing air, said wing portion,upon being compressed when the casement is closed, being adaptedcompletely but slowly to cause the compartment to collapse and to expelthe air through the corner crevices to the atmosphere.

5. A seal member for use between a rectangular stationary frame of acasement sash and a movable casement, said member being adapted to besecured to and. extending perimetrically completely about one of saidframe and casement members except for corner crevices, said membercomprising body and wing portions, said body portion being formed of twospaced members adapted to receive the stationary frame between them,said wing portion extending outwardly from the body portion into thepath of the movable member and adapted to be compressed between thestationary and movable members upon closure of the casement, said wingportion having curvilinear surfaces and a rounded tip, and a chambercontained within the wing portion conforming to the shape of the wingportion to leave walls of uniform thickness, and a gaseous material insaid chamber, said wing portion upon being compressed when the casementis closed being adapted completely but slowly to cause said chamber tocollapse and to expel the air through the ocrner crevices to theatmosphere.

6. A weather stripping adapted to provide a seal between a rectangularstationary frame and a movable casement, said seal including body andwing portions extending around the rectangular joint between the windowand casement, said seal being continuous and complete except forcrevices left at the corners, said body portion being formed of twospaced members adapted to receive one of the stationary frame andcasement sash between them and the wing portion extending outwardly fromthe body portion into a path to be contacted by the movable casementupon closure of the casement, said wing portion having an air chambertherein completely enclosed except at the ends of the seal, said chamberbeing adapted to be collapsed throughout its entire length to expel theair therefrom to the atmosphere through the corner crevices when theeasement is closed, the crosssectional area of said chamber at the endsof the seal and at the crevices being sufiicient to provide a throttlingeffect on the air being expelled from the chamber when the wing iscollapsed.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS494,351 Thomas Mar. 28, 1893 647,379 Davis Apr. 10, 1900 1,570,186Repogle Jan. 19, 1926 2,051,757 Travis Aug. 18, 1936 2,088,909 JaubertAug. 3, 1937 2,484,176 Lindemann Oct. 11, 1949 2,560,665 Stark July 17,1951 2,607,091 Dodge Aug. 19, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 83,132 Austria Mar.10, 1921

